Folding table



T. H. COLLADAY Dec. 1, 1925' FOLDING TABLE Filed Ju f5 I Inventor fwd/ah Aflorzne y Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THAI) H. OOLLADAY, 0F DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO COLLADAY MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed July 14, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THAD H. COLLADAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to portable tables and has particular reference to tables of the folding type, characterized by a table having two pairs of legs which fold inwardly and nest within each other within the table top.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a folding table which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture and which is composed 'of a minimum number of operating parts, which are assembled in such a manner as to produce a rigid and steady structure.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a folding table which may be easily and conveniently assembled and which may be quickly set up and taken down by the user thereof with little exertion and great convenience. The structure has also a neat and finished appearance.

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the 1n vention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrylng the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructlons which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a table constituting the preferred embodiment of the invention, the legs of the same being shown in open or supporting position.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table shown in its folded or closed position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the corner of a table embodying the improvements.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a Serial No. 651,681.

table top having the usual depending side supporting flanges 2 and end supporting flanges 3. At each end,of the table and on the under side of the top thereof, is a transversely extending leg supporting member 4, rotatably mounted by means of trunnions 5 jou'rnaled in suitable apertures 6 in the side flanges 2. The legs of the table are indicated at 7 and are rigidly secured at their upper ends to the respective rotatably mount-- ed transverse leg supporting members 4 at each end of the table, preferably by means of mortise joints 8. The several legs of the table are all mounted and arranged for folding movement together with the members 4 relative to the table top by means of brace members which are all rigid when the table is set up. A description therefore of the particular mounting and bracing arrangement of one of the legs will be understood as describing a similar arrangement for each of the remaining table legs.

A diagonal bracing member 9, preferably of metal, is rigidly secured as at 10 to one side of the rotatable transverse leg supporting member 4; and is rigidly secured at its lower end by a screw or bolt 11 at a point intermediate the length of the table leg. It will be observed that the rigid bracing memher 9 terminates at its lower end in an angled extension 9 partially encircling each of the legs 7. A jointed and collapsible bracing member 12 is provided for each of the table legs, or prefelably for each pair of the same and has a pivotal connection at its lower end at the point 11 on the-table leg, where it is connected by the bolt or screw 11 to the angled extremity 9' of the rigid brace 9. It will be observed that by this tying together of the collapsible brace member 12 and rigid brace member 9, a continuous and unitary structure is effected which results in a rigid support for the leg 7. The collapsialignment tor registry with the aperture 13, when the bracing member is in extended position and the link 1& is in substantial alignment with the bracing member. The member 12 terminates in an inturned portion 18 serving as a convenient handheld for effecting the registry of the lug 17 with the aperture or recess 13 to lock the legs 7 in table Supporting position, and also serving as a means for causing the legs to fold inwards when the table is to be taken down and folded up.

Referring to Fi 2 it will be seen that when the table is in folded position the end pairs of legs '7 are in alignment and nested within the depending side supports 2 of the table cover and the cooperating brace members 12 and 1 1 are also aligned with each other between the respective legs and the flange In the event that the corresponding pairs of legs at each end of the table are of such length as to require them to be lapped pasteach other when the table is folded, it will be understood that one or the pairs of legs may be mortised or otherwise secured in the rotating transverse sup porting member at one end of the table at a pointcorrespondingly nearer the center than the legs on the opposite member 4, thus permitting the legs to be nested adjacent one another when in closed position Within the table top as distinguished from aligned position as previously described. The latter arrangement, however, has been made the subject of illustration. The table top may be further provided on its lower surface with one or more longitudinally extending brace members 19 extending down wardly substantially the same distance as the supporting flanges 2 and between which and said supporting flanges the table legs are adapted to nest when in folded or closed position.

It will be further understood that while I have described each end pair of the legs 7 as being provided with the various bracing members described a rigid and supporting structure will be effected with one bracing and mechanism for each leg att-he four corners of the table. From the foregoing it will be apparent that when it is desired to set up the table it is only necessary to g asp one of the legs 7 at each end or the structure and move the same to a vertical position at right angles to the table top 1, suchrotating movement of each pair of legs being permitted by the pivotal mounting of the transverse members 1 on the trunnions 5. This movement of the table legs 1 if? in relative moxe :ent ot the arms ct nring n'iembers on their respective pivels il. 15 and 1b to a position where the aperture or. recess 18 is adjacent the inwardly extending lug or pin 1'? At this point it is only necessary to grasp the inwardly in clined handle portion 18 of each brace memher 12 and snap the recess over and into engagement with the pin 17. This motion is permitted by reason of the natural spring in the metal of which the parts are oi? pre erence constructed. -ffhen the pin 17 is in engagement. with the recess 18 the arms ol the brace members are extended in alignment with one another constituting an integral rigidly supporting structure which locks the table legs against swinging movement with respect to the table top. The table may be then set on its legs and used for whatever purpose desired. To told the table it is only necessary to grasp the handle 18 and move the pin 1'? from registry with the recess 18. Each pair of legs is then ready to be moved inwardly on the trun nions 5 to folded and nes ed position within the table top and in a POI tion where the en tire construction may be conveniently handled or packed within a minimnn'i of space.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2 it will be seen that when the legs are nested in folded position within the table top the heads of the screws or bolts forming the pivots 11 and 1b are substantially adjacent. one another and the head of the pivot 11 springs past the head of the pivot 16. This arrangement prevents the legs "from becoming inadvertently displaced by gravity when once. in folded position by reason of the yielding engagement of the belt or screw heads described.

What I claim is 1. In a folding table, in combination: a table top, a pair of transverse leg supporting members journaled adjacent the ends out said top, a pair of table legs rigidly mounted on each of said supporting members and adapted when extended to support said table top; a collapsible brace member extending between one 075 each pair of table legs and said top and comprising a pair of arms pivoted together, one end of each of said arms being respectively pivoted to said table leg and said top, one of said arms being provided with a sidewise extending lug, and the other of said arms terminating in a resilient extension having a lateral aperture to receive said lug, whereby said apertured extension may be sprung into interlocking engagement with said lug to maintain said brace member in extended posi'tion and said legs in table-supporting position.

2. In a folding table, in combination: a table top, a pair of transverse leg supporting members jonrnaled adjacent the ends of said top, a pair of table legs rigidly mountec on each of said supporting me= adapted when extended to suppor top and when in folded position to n in said table top, a collapsible brace member pivotally mounted at one end to one 01:

each pair of table legs and coi'nprising a pair of arms pivoted together, one end of each of said arms being respectively pivoted to said table leg and said table top, one of said arms being provided at one end with a sidewise extending lug, and the other of said arms being provided with an extension having a lateral aperture adjacent the end thereof to receive said lug and tern'iinating in an olf-s'et handle portion, whereby said apertured extension may be sprung into in terlocking engagement with said lug to maintain said brace member in extended position and said legs rigidly in table-supporting position.

8. A folding table, comprising in combination: a table top, a pair of transverse leg supporting members ro'tatably mounted in said top, table legs rigidly mounted adjacent the ends of said supporting members, reinforcing members rigidly connecting said table legs to said supporting members, having at their lower ends angled extensions, encircling said legs, a collapsible brace member pivotally mounted at its lower end to each of said legs at the point of attachment of said angled extension and cooperating with the latter and with said reinforcing member to form a unitary bracing structure, said collapsible brace having a recess at its other end, and an auxiliary link member pivotally mounted at one end intermediate said collapsible brace member, said link being pivotally mounted at its other end to said table top and having an integral inwardly extending lug adapted for registry with said recess in said collapsible brace member to maintain said legs rigidly in table-supporting position.

4. In a folding table, in combination: a table top, a pair of transverse leg support-- ing members journaled adjacent the ends of said top, a pair of table legs rigidly mounted on each of said supporting members and adapted When extended to support said table top, reinforcing members rigidly connecting said table legs to said supporting members and having at their lower ends angled extensions encircling said legs, a collapsible brace member pivotally mounted at their lower ends at the point of attachment of said angled extensions to said reinforcing members, and a pair of link members connected at one end intermediate said collapsible brace members and pivotally mounted at their other ends to said table top, the relation between said latter mentioned pivot point on said table top and the pivot support of said. rigid brace member at its point of connection to said angled extension being such as to provide a laterally yieldable interlocking engagement of the fastening means in said respective pivot points when the table is in folded position, to maintain said table legs against accidental displacement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THAD H. COLLADAY. 

